Challenger banks win out at the Payments Awards

Digital challenger banks enjoyed success at last night’s Payments Awards, with Starling Bank and ClearBank both picking up two awards each.

The sixth annual industry event was held at the Grosvenor Square Marriott hotel in London, with a record number of entries across the 24 categories.

Starling Bank took home the Personal Finance App of the Year award, along with the prize for PSD2 or Open Banking Initiative of the Year. The judges suggested that Starling’s proposition was “all about the marketplace” and questioned “could Starling become the Amazon of banking?”

ClearBank meanwhile won the Payments Infrastructure Award, and chief executive Nick Ogden was deemed to be the Payments Pioneer of the year. The judges commented that Ogden “understands market opportunity and how to exploit it for real commercial advantage, not just mesmerising investors and hypnotising the media”.

Traditional banks still did well though, with HSBC Bank winning Best Mobile Payments Solution, while NatWest Bank scooped the Best Online Payments Solution - Merchant award.

The full winners list is as follows:

Best Online Payments Solution - Consumer
Just Eat

Best Online Payments Solution - Merchant
NatWest Bank

Best Mobile Payments Solution
HSBC Bank

Best In-store Payments Solution
AEVI

Best Contactless Payments Project
Acceptacard – Payacharity

Best Prepaid Card Solution
PPRO

Anti-Fraud or Security Solution of the Year - Consumer
Nuggets

Anti-Fraud or Security Solution of the Year - Merchant
RISK IDENT

Most Disruptive Payments Technology
APEXX

Payments Startup of the Year
Flux

Technology Provider of the Year
The Chargeback Company

Best Merchant Acquirer or Processor
Paysafe

Best Cross-Border Payments Solution
Earthport

Lending Initiative of the Year
iwoca

Personal Finance App of the Year
Starling Bank

B2B Payments Innovation of the Year
Bottomline Technologies

Best Alternative Payments Project
TBC Bank

Marketing Campaign of the Year
Monese

Best Use of Biometrics
NuData Security, a Mastercard company

Blockchain Initiative of the Year
we.trade

PSD2 or Open Banking Initiative of the Year
Starling Bank

Payments Infrastructure Award
ClearBank

Payments Innovation of the Year
Much Better & Wirecard

Payments Pioneer Award
Nick Ogden, ClearBank

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